Catheter cartridge assemblies and methods of using the same for intermittent catheterization

Abstract

A catheter cartridge assembly includes a cartridge and a catheter member. The cartridge has a cartridge housing with proximal and distal ends. A pre-loaded tip and a protective sleeve associated with the pre-loaded tip are at least partially positioned within the cartridge housing. The catheter member has a proximal end configured to be advanced proximally into and through the cartridge housing to engage a distal end of the pre-loaded tip for proximal advancement out of the proximal end of the cartridge housing with the pre-loaded tip, with the protective sleeve covering at least a portion of the catheter member.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A catheter cartridge assembly, comprising:
 a cartridge including
 a cartridge housing having proximal and distal ends; 
 a pre-loaded tip at least partially positioned within the cartridge housing; and 
 a protective sleeve at least partially positioned within the cartridge housing and having a proximal end secured with respect to the pre-loaded tip; and 
 
 a catheter member having a proximal end configured to be advanced proximally into and through the cartridge housing to engage and become joined to a distal end of the pre-loaded tip for proximal advancement out of the proximal end of the cartridge housing as a composite catheter defined by the joined pre-loaded tip and catheter member, wherein the protective sleeve is configured to cover the portion of the composite catheter defined by the catheter member as the composite catheter is proximally advanced out of the cartridge housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The catheter cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an alignment member at least partially positioned within the cartridge housing and configured to guide the proximal end of the catheter member into engagement with the distal end of the pre-loaded tip as the catheter member is advanced proximally through the cartridge housing. 
     
     
       3. The catheter cartridge assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the alignment member is detachably connected to the pre-loaded tip via a snap-fit. 
     
     
       4. The catheter cartridge assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the alignment member is detachably connected to the pre-loaded tip via a friction fit. 
     
     
       5. The catheter cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir at least partially positioned within the cartridge, with at least a portion of the pre-loaded tip and at least a portion of the protective sleeve positioned within the reservoir. 
     
     
       6. The catheter cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an introducer connected to the proximal end of the cartridge housing, with at least a portion of the pre-loaded tip positioned within the introducer. 
     
     
       7. The catheter cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a proximal enclosure associated with a proximal portion of the cartridge housing and a distal enclosure associated with a distal portion of the cartridge housing. 
     
     
       8. The catheter cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter member includes an internal coating. 
     
     
       9. The catheter cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the catheter member and the distal end of the pre-loaded tip are configured to engage and become joined as a snap-fit. 
     
     
       10. The catheter cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the catheter member and the distal end of the pre-loaded tip are configured to engage and become joined as a friction fit. 
     
     
       11. A catheterization method employing a cartridge including a cartridge housing having proximal and distal ends, a pre-loaded tip at least partially positioned within the cartridge housing, and a protective sleeve having a proximal end secured with respect to the pre-loaded tip, the method comprising:
 proximally advancing at least a proximal portion of a catheter member into the cartridge housing via the distal end of the cartridge housing; 
 engaging a proximal end of the catheter member and a distal end of the pre-loaded tip, thereby joining the catheter member and the pre-loaded tip so as to define a composite catheter; and 
 advancing said composite catheter out of the cartridge housing via the proximal end of the cartridge housing, with the protective sleeve covering the portion of the composite catheter defined by the catheter member as the composite catheter is advanced out of the cartridge housing. 
 
     
     
       12. The catheterization method of  claim 11 , wherein
 the cartridge includes an alignment member at least partially positioned within the cartridge housing, and 
 the alignment member is configured to guide the proximal end of the catheter member into engagement with the distal end of the pre-loaded tip. 
 
     
     
       13. The catheterization method of  claim 12 , wherein said advancing said composite catheter out of the cartridge housing via the proximal end of the cartridge housing includes first detaching the pre-loaded tip from the alignment member. 
     
     
       14. The catheterization method of  claim 11 , wherein
 the cartridge includes a proximal enclosure removably connected to a proximal portion of the cartridge housing, and 
 said advancing said composite catheter out of the cartridge housing via the proximal end of the cartridge housing includes first at least partially disassociating the proximal enclosure from the proximal portion of the cartridge housing. 
 
     
     
       15. The catheterization method of  claim 11 , wherein
 the cartridge includes a distal enclosure removably connected to a distal portion of the cartridge housing, and 
 said proximally advancing at least a proximal portion of a catheter member into the cartridge housing via the distal end of the cartridge housing includes first at least partially disassociating the distal enclosure from the distal portion of the cartridge housing. 
 
     
     
       16. The catheterization method of  claim 11 , wherein said engaging a proximal end of the catheter member and a distal end of the pre-loaded tip includes engaging and joining the proximal end of the catheter member and the distal end of the pre-loaded tip with a snap-fit. 
     
     
       17. The catheterization method of  claim 11 , wherein said engaging a proximal end of the catheter member and a distal end of the pre-loaded tip includes engaging and joining the proximal end of the catheter member and the distal end of the pre-loaded tip with a friction fit. 
     
     
       18. The catheterization method of  claim 11 , further comprising
 retracting the composite catheter distally into the cartridge housing; and 
 detaching the catheter member from the pre-loaded tip. 
 
     
     
       19. The catheterization method of  claim 11 , further comprising disposing of the cartridge after catheterization, while retaining the catheter member for reuse.